Dual containment pipe assembly

Abstract

A dual containment pipe assembly includes an outer containment pipe defining a rib on an interior surface thereof. An inner containment pipe can be positioned inside of the outer containment pipe. The inner containment pipe has at least one clip on an exterior surface thereof. At least one spacer wheel is between the outer containment pipe and the inner containment pipe. The spacer wheel has an inner channel for engagement to the clip and an outer groove for engagement to the rib. The spacer wheel includes: an inner circumferential hub defining the inner channel for engaging the clip; an outer circumferential rim defining the outer groove for engaging the rib; and a plurality of support spokes connecting the inner circumferential hub and the outer circumferential rim.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dual containment pipe assembly comprising:
 an outer containment pipe defining a first structure on an interior surface thereof; 
 an inner containment pipe positioned inside of the outer containment pipe, the inner containment pipe having a second structure disposed on an exterior surface thereof; 
 a spacer wheel disposed between the outer containment pipe and the inner containment pipe, the spacer wheel defining an inner structure for engagement to the second structure, and an outer structure for engagement to the first structure; and 
 wherein the first structure is a rib, the second structure is a clip, the inner structure is a channel, and the outer structure is a groove. 
 
     
     
       2. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer wheel includes: an inner circumferential hub defining the inner channel for engagement to the clip of the inner containment pipe; an outer circumferential rim defining the outer groove for engagement to the rib of the outer containment pipe; and a plurality of support spokes connecting the inner circumferential hub and the outer circumferential rim, wherein the plurality of support spokes, the inner circumferential hub and the outer circumferential rim define annular slots. 
     
     
       3. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes: a deflectable finger configured for snap engagement with the inner channel of the spacer wheel; a base section with a banking surface from which the deflectable finger extends; and a barb disposed at a distal end of the deflectable finger, opposite the base section. 
     
     
       4. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the spacer wheel has an axial length corresponding to a distance between the banking surface and the barb. 
     
     
       5. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer containment pipe and inner containment pipe are elbow shaped. 
     
     
       6. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second spacer wheel disposed between the outer containment pipe and the inner containment pipe, the second spacer wheel also configured for engagement with both containment pipes. 
     
     
       7. A dual containment pipe assembly comprising:
 an outer containment pipe defining a flow axis; 
 an inner containment pipe positioned within the outer containment pipe, the inner containment pipe having a clip connected to an exterior surface thereof; 
 a spacer wheel disposed between the outer containment pipe and the inner containment pipe, the spacer wheel including an inner circumferential hub defining an inner channel, 
 wherein the inner channel is configured to snap engage the clip to set the spacer wheel at a predetermined axial location on the inner containment pipe; and 
 wherein the clip includes: a base section with a banking surface; a deflectable finger extending from the base section; and a barb disposed at a distal end of the deflectable finger, opposite the base section. 
 
     
     
       8. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the spacer wheel includes an outer circumferential rim connected to the inner circumferential hub by a plurality of support spokes. 
     
     
       9. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the spacer wheel has an axial length corresponding to a distance between the base section and the barb. 
     
     
       10. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the outer containment pipe and inner containment pipe are elbow shaped. 
     
     
       11. A dual containment pipe assembly comprising:
 an outer containment pipe defining a rib on an interior surface thereof; 
 an inner containment pipe positioned within the outer containment pipe; 
 a spacer wheel disposed between the outer containment pipe and the inner containment pipe, the spacer wheel includes an outer circumferential rim having a groove configured to slidingly engage the rib to fix the inner containment pipe within the outer containment pipe at a predetermined orientation; and 
 further comprising a second spacer wheel, wherein: the inner containment pipe includes two pairs of opposing clips; each spacer wheel defines an inner circumferential hub connected to the outer circumferential rim by a plurality of support spokes; and the outer circumferential wheel rim fits snugly in the outer containment pipe and each spacer wheel snap fits into one of the pairs of clips. 
 
     
     
       12. The dual containment pipe assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the outer containment pipe and inner containment pipe are elbow shaped and the rib extends at least partially along a flow axis.